Rob Manfred Thinks The MLB Trade Deadline Is Too Early

The commissioner has shown himself open to new ideas. What do you think of this one?

It might be difficult for you to believe now, but major-league teams used to have to make non-waiver trades before June 15 every year. They did so between 1922 and 1986; here's a brief history of the trade deadline via SABR. The Lou Brock deal was consummated on June 15; so was the Cubs' acquisition of Rick Sutcliffe in 1984.

The deadline has been July 31 for three decades, but Commissioner Rob Manfred says he's open to changing that:

"I think that the July 31st deadline is something that we may want to revisit in the context of the revised playoff format," Manfred said Wednesday. "Obviously when you have two…